08TBILISI1350, GEORGIANS LOOKING TO WEST FOR HELP, OPPOSITION AND

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UNCLAS TBILISI 001350
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, TASKFORCE-1
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOVPRELGG
SUBJECT: GEORGIANS LOOKING TO WEST FOR HELP, OPPOSITION AND
CIVIL SOCIETY SAY
¶1. (SBU) Post has reached out to notable opinion leaders in
Georgia and found a common theme from all -- threats from
Russia have unified the Georgian political class. Most have
reported that Georgians are feeling terrorized by
indiscriminate Russian bombing of Georgian cities,
particularly Russian targeting of civilian residential
buildings. They are calling on the West, and the United
States in particular, to take an active role in preserving an
independent Georgia.
Nino Burjanadze, former Speaker of Parliament
---------------------------------------------
¶2. (SBU) Burjanadze called the Ambassador on August 9 to
express her grave concern about Russian actions. She told us
that ordinary citizens are frightened for their safety. She
urged the Ambassador to mobilize resources to assist these
citizens. Burjanadze continues to be in touch, clearly
shocked by the willingness of the Russians to use force
against Georgia and Georgians.
Alex Rondeli, GFSIS
-------------------
¶3. (SBU) Ambassador Alexander Rondeli, President, Georgian
Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, opined to
Poloff August 9 that ordinary Georgians are feeling
patriotic, and support for Saakashvili is high. He believed
that ordinary Georgians expect someone to come and save them
from the Russians, and they do not understand that they may
have to help themselves. Public statements of support may be
one thing, but sending in the green berets is quite another,
he said. He offered that in the event of Georgian defeat,
the "fifth column" (ordinary citizens) would emerge from
their basements, criticizing the West for not helping them.
¶4. (SBU) He anticipated the Russians would bring additional
forces to trounce Georgia, "liberate" Tskhinvali, and make a
victorious march towards Gori. Rondeli described the typical
Russian modus operandi as crushing the opponent by
overwhelming force, creating panic amongst the population,
and using the media as an effective propaganda tool to do so.
He was angered by the media, and in particular, Euronews, as
portraying Georgia as the aggressor, and was disappointed by
statement such as that from the British PermRep to the U.N.
who told the BBC "that the situation is uncertain." on August
¶9. He said that Russians are sensitive to media propaganda
targeted against them and he encouraged the West to use the
media more effectively. (Comment: Post is now watching to
see if Rondeli's otherwise accurate forecast occurs, as
Russian troops mass above Gori. End comment.)
David Usupashvili, Republican Party
-----------------------------------
¶5. (SBU) On August 8, Usupashvili issued a public statement
from the Republican Party calling for support of the
government, unity in the country, and Western aid in stopping
Russia's aggression. Privately on August 9, Usupashvili told
us he is critical of Saakashvili,s actions, which he
believes are worsening Georgia,s position. He told us that
pro-Russian parties in Georgia are reaching out to Moscow and
trying to establish a dialogue. He was fearful that the
bombings would worsen and could possibly move to Tbilisi.
Usupashvili believes that the Russian definition of victory
would include a new Georgian government.
MP Giorgi Targamadze, Christian Democratic Movement
--------------------------------------------- ------
¶6. (U) Although out of the country, Targamadze issued the
following statement. "Today, at its most important moment in
Georgia,s history, when the country,s sovereignty and
territorial integrity is under real threat due to an
undeclared war brought on us by Russia -- Georgia,s
Christian Democratic Movement is appealing to the
international community and democratic world to use all
possible means to stop Russia,s military aggression against
Georgia, ease tension in the Tskhinvali region, and start
peaceful settlement of the conflict by the active involvement
of international mediators in the process."
TEFFT

The information recorded on this site has been extracted from http://Wikileaks.org (Georgia) database..

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